摘要 |
A container for use in the bulk handling of flowable particulate materials is disclosed comprising a closed, generally rectangular parallelpiped on upper container body portion, having side walls, end walls and a roof, and a lower base portion; conduits permitting the introduction and withdrawal of particulate materials to and from the container body; the lower base portion supporting a vertical flexure panel at each corner thereof, the vertical flexure panels supporting opposed pairs of longitudinal and transverse flexure panels between the tops thereof; exterior outer skin members bonded as side and end walls and roof of the container body portion to the curved flexure panels; a plurality of horizontal, non-intersecting internal end wall stiffeners bonded to each of the end walls, each terminating at opposite ends in a junction with one of the pair of vertical flexure panels; a plurality of vertical, non-intersecting internal side wall stiffeners bonded to each of the side walls, each terminated at opposite ends in a junction with one of the longitudinal flexure panels and the lower base portion; and a plurality of transverse, internal, non-intersecting roof stiffeners bonded to the roof, and each terminated at opposite ends in a junction with one of the pair of longitudinal hinge panels; whereby the side walls, end walls and roof may deflect independently of each other to provide overall container flexural capability while avoiding areas of high stress concentration.
|